Method and machine for bunching lead wires



2 sheets-Sheet v 1 May 15, 1934. J. STUART, 2D

IETHOD AND MACHINE FOR BUNCHING LEAD WIRES "Filed Nov. 19, 1931 l n IIIIIIIIIIII' n May 15, 1934. 1 STUART, 2D 1,958,870

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR BUNGHING LEAD WIRES Filed NOV. 19. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F76' i F76. 6.

' -47/0 fys.

y Patented May 15,1934

UNITED STATES METHOD AND MACHINE Fon- BUNcnmG LEAD WIRES Joseph stuart, zd, Wilmington, Doi., signor to Hercules Powder Company,

Wilmington, Del.,

a corporation of Delaware Appuomon November 19', 1931, serial No. 516,031

16 Claims. (Cl. 1411-71) This invention relates to a method and machine for bunching wire particularly adapted to form a compact bundle of lead wires for blasting caps.

Inasmuch as blasting caps in general require a considerable length of lead wire for their ignition, invorder to facilitate handling it is necessary to bunch this lead wire in some fashion which will not only bring it into compact form but which will permit its ready release to an extended length when the blasting cap is about to be used. Inas.-

much as two lead wires are4 provided for each cap it frequently happens they become entangled with each other requiring the exercise of considerable effort to stretch them'out into condition for use.

It is a broad object'of the present invention to provide a machine for bunching wires ln'a convenient form so that they may be'readily released for use. specicallmthemachine performs this function by forming the wire intoa plurality of folds and then securing the folds in bunched condition by a suitable .binding wire.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pneumatically operated machine which performs the necessary steps in a proper fashion to form a nished product of the required character, the various folds of the wire being so located that the wires may be stretched out when the blasting cap is to be used.

Other objects of the invention relating particularly to details of construction will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inV which: Y

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the preferred modification of the bunching machine;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a distorted vertical section taken par'- tially through the various plunger operating cylinders but also showing the connections between said cylinders;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the bottom portion of the machine showing the parts in one position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in another position;

Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views l taken on the plane indicated by the lineJl-l in Fig. 5 and showing the parts in diiferent positions;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a similar section showing the parts in a different position; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of binding the bunched lead wires.

The machine .in the preferred form illustrated in the drawings comprises a suitable supporting frame 2 which carries the various operating parts. At the lower portion of this frame there are lo-r cated spaced apart vertical plates 4 and 6 (Figs. 7 and 10) providing between them a space in which the folds of the lead wires are formed. A head 8 is secured by a suitable rod to a piston 10 arranged to reciprocate in a cylinder 12, the cylinder being provided with connections 14 and 16 on vmay be positively moved in inward or outward directions by compressed air'or steam'. The head 8 carriesa plurality of pins 18 which are arranged to ,project through aligned holes 20 in the p1ates'4 and 6 when the piston 10 is in its innermost position.

Above the pins 18 and arranged to'move in paths so that they would be carried between the pins 18 lare plungers 22 preferably provided at their lower ends with rollers, or pulleys, 24 designed to engage the lead wires.I The plungers 22 are carried. by rods 26 secured to pistons 28 arranged to reciprocate in vertical cylinders 30. As most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the first of the series of cylinders, viewing them in order from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1 is provided at its upper end with a connection 32 designed to receive air or steam at high pressure. 'I'his first cylinder 30 is provided adjacent its lower end, but above the lowermost position of the piston 28, with a passage 34 whereby itis in communication with a connecting passage 36 leading into the top of the next cylinder in the order named. This cylinder, in turn, has a similar connection with the next one, and so on. y

Immediately above the connection 34 at the bottom of passage 36 is a seat 38 with which the valve member 40 isadapted to engage to cut of! communication between the passage 34 and the passage 36. The valve 40 is provided with a downwardly and laterally directed passage 42.

I'Ihe lateral opening'y of this passage is designed to communicate with the passage 44 which forms a vent to the atmosphere when the valve rests on its seat r38. The valve 40 is carried by a piston 46 reciprocable in a cylinder closed by a screw 48. Above and below this piston are located spiral springs which normally tend to maintain the piston in a floating condition such as that illustrated in Fig. 3. Opening into the cylinder in which the piston 46 is located and below the piston when the latter is in its normal iioating position is a passage 52 which is in open communication with a passage 50 which extends parallel to the line of cylinders and is connected as indicated at 54 in Fig. 2 with a source of compressed air or steam under relatively low pressure as compared with the pressure of the fluid introduced at 32. The passage 50 also has open `communication with each of the cylinders 30 at its lower end below the lowermost position of the piston contained therein.

By the arrangement just described it will be seen that the plungers 22 may be projected downwardly in .order from that on the right of Fig. 1 to that on the left thereof. Assuming that each of the plungers is initially in its uppermost position being held there by the low pressure from 50, the low pressure may be released whereupon all of the plungers will drop under their own weight upon the wires extending over the pins 18 as will be hereafter described. The low pressure now being released, the valves 40 will move under the action of the upper spring to; an intermediate position cutting off communication between the passage 42 and the vent 44 and locating the piston 46 just above the entrance passage 52. As the first piston 28 moves downwardly under the action of the compressed gas or steam the gas below the same will be forced out through 50 and 54 which may now be open to the atmosphere, or

,which is at most opened to a source of low pressure.

As soon as the piston 28 clears the passage 34, which clearance occurs as it approaches its lowermost position, the air or steam will flow through the passages 34 and 36 to the upper end of the next cylinder. As the piston in this cylinder in turn reaches its lowermost position the air or steam will ow to the next cylinder and so on. Consequently, it will be seen that the plungers 22 are moved forcibly downwardly by the high pressure fluid in successive order, none of the plungers moving downwardly until the one preceding it reaches substantially its lowermost position.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the two lead wires are obtained from supply reels 56, the wires being indicated at W. Passing from the reels 56 they extend over a member 58 against which they are pressed by a member 60 carried by a piston 62 slidable in a cylinder which piston is arranged to be pressed upwardly within the cylinder by a spring located beneath it and pressed positively downwardly by compressed fluid entering through the connection 64. The pressure of member 60 upon the Wire serves to frictionally retard the free movement of the wires from the reels 56. Arranged just beyond the member 60 are lower and upper knives 66 and 68 normally retracted by suitable springs but carried by pistons 70 and 72 upon which compressed fluid will act to move the knives towards each other to sever the wires at the proper times.

The lower jaw 74 of a clamp member is pivoted at 76 tu a piston rod connected with a piston '78 which reciprocates in a horizontally located cylinder having passages 80 and 82 at its oppositel ends for the entrance of compressed fluid, the passage 80 being arranged to receive compressed uid at high pressure while the passage 82 receives uid at lower pressure. Pivoted to the lower jaw 74 is an upper jaw 84 which is pivotally connected with a piston 86 normally.

held towards the right as viewed in Fig. 1 by a spring 90 but being movable to the left under the action of compressed uid entering through 88. The spring 90 normally tends to hold the upper jaw away from the lower jaw as indicated in Fig. 1.

Located below the lower jaw 74 is a plunger 92 carried by a piston 94 adapted to reciprocate in a suitable cylinder, the piston being normally held downwardly by a spring 98 but being raised at suitable times by compressed uid entering the cylinder at 96.

Fixed between the side plates 4 and 6 is a member 100 which, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, is provided with a pair of forked members 102 the points of which move closely adjacent the plates 4 and 6 so that the lead wires may be `properly collected within the fork as will be hereafter pointed out. A member `106 similar to 100 is movable between the plates being carried by a plunger 112 connected with a piston 114 which is moved within its cylinder by compressed luid entering 116 and 118 respectively, high pressure being provided at 116 to move it to the right in its working stroke and low pressure at 118 to move it to the left in its return stroke.' I'he member 106 is also provided with forks 108 similar to forks 102 but arranged at different levels so as to move in the present instance over the corresponding forks 102. The member 106 is further provided with an arcuate groove 110 aligned horizontally with a similar arcuate groove 104 in the member 10 0. A passage 111 for binding wire enters the member 100 and communicates with the grooves 110 and 104.

Binding wire B is fed through the opening 111 to the grooves 104 and 110 by the feed wheels 120, the upper one of which is spring-pressed downwardly to aiord a frictional grip of the lower one on the wire B, the lower roll being driven through a suitable ratchet mechanism 122 from a reciprocating piston 124 which is moved downwardly by a spring and upwardly by high pressure fluid entering its cylinder at 126. The binding wire B which is preferably of a relatively stiif variety is fed from a supply wheel 128.

Extending inwardly through a suitable open-l ing in 100 is a knife 136 carried by a piston 130 which is normally urged outwardly by a spring 134 being moved inwardly for its working stroke by compressed fluid introduced at 132.

In the operation of the device the parts may be assumed initially in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this initial position lengths of the lead wires W project beyond the member 60 to a position lined up with the knives 66 and 68, and jaws 74 and 84 rest in retracted position. Also member 106 is in the position illustrated. The knives 66 and 68 are in their upper and lower positions respectively. The plungers 22 are held upwardly by low pressure fluid entering through 50.

The first event of the cycle of operation consists of a movement of the piston-78 to the left as viewed in Fig. l whereupon the lower jaw 74 moves under the projecting ends of the feed wires while the upper jaw 84 moves thereover. When the jaws are in this extreme lefthand position pressure is applied at 88 closing the upper jaw 84, thus clamping the ends of the feed wires. The pressure at 64 is then released and pressure introduced at 80 so that the piston '78 is moved to the right drawing lengths of the lead wires from the reels 56. The jaws continue to hold the wires from this time until discharge.

Next, pressure is applied at 32, the rst plunger 22 then moving downwardly between the two pins 18 on the right of Fig. l, the wires being formed into a fold extending downwardly be tween the pins, the wires feeding from the supply reels to permit this. As soon as the rst plunger reaches its lowermost position the next one likewise moves downwardly between the second and third pins '18 whereby a second fold is formed. Following this, the other plungers move down in succession forming further folds. Afterl the last plunger moves down to its lowermost position all of the plungers are moved upwardly by the introduction of low pressure uid at 50, this low pressure fluid acting below the pistons 28 moving them upwardly. However, as will bev obvious, it is necessary that the upper ends of these cylinders be now vented to the atmosphere to permit such upward movement. The valve controlling the high pressure flow into the ilrst cylinder at 32 is suitably arranged to open that cylinder to the atmosphere upon upward movement of the.' plunger. The other cylinders are taken care of by the fact that the low pressure fluid entering at 52 forces the valves 40 upwardly until the passages-42 provide communications from the passages 36 to the atmosphere through the vents 44. All of the plungers are now held in upper position by the low pressure fluid. Simultaneously, with or subsequent to this lifting of the plungers, the knives 66 and 68 are moved towards each other to sever the lead wires, the member 60 being simultaneously lowered to clamp the ends of the wires for a subsequent seizure by the jaws.

The piston 10 is now moved outwardly by fluid pressure introduced at 16 thereby withdrawing the pins 18 and freeing the upper ends of the folds formed in the lead wires located between the plates'4 and 6. After this withdrawal of the pins pressure is introduced at 116 driving the piston 114 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 thereby bunch-Ing the folds of the wires together as indicated in Fig. 6. As the member 106 reaches its righthand limiting position the ratchet mechanism 122 is actuated to feed binding wire B from its reel 128 through the opening 111. This wire enters the groove 104 which now forms a circular continuation of groove 110 and passes around this groove about the hunched folds of lead wire as indicated in Figs. 10 and l1. vIf the binding wire B is of the proper stiff character, one loop will be sufficient to maintain the folds in properly bunched condition. As soon as the proper length of binding Wire has been fed the knife 136 is actuated to cut it. As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1l, the knife 136 is provided with a beveled end which acts to press the end of the loop of binding wire bringing it into close engagement with the bunch.

Following this event the knife 136 is moved outwardly by the action of spring 134 upon release of the pressure at 132 and the member 106v is moved outwardly by the introduction of compressed fluid at 118. The bunched wire looped by the binding wire B is now held by the jaws 74 and 84. Pressure is now introduced at 96 forcing the plunger 92 upwardly and moving the ends of the jaws as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. This results in the lifting of the bunch from between the plates 4 and 6 and its discharge at the side of the machine. All of the parts are now returned to their initial position either by springs or compressed fluid, the primary noteworthy retum being that of pins 18 through the holes 20 so as to be in position to have subsequent lengths of lead wires drawn thereover.

The introduction of compressed fluid at high or low pressure as may be required may be effected in any of the usual fashions, for example, by a suitable air or steam valve driven by an electric or pneumatic motor. Instead of using the illustrated arrangement to effect the successive movements of the plungers 22, this valve may also be used to control them to give them their properly timed movements. It will be obvious, of course, that the fluid is always released or at a lower pressure at one end of the cylinder prior to introduction of the more highly compressed uid at the other.

The method in accordance with this invention 2. A machine for bunching wire includingA means for fixedly holding the end of a wire extending from a supply, and means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of independent adjacent folds, the folds being formed successively from the held end towards the supply.

3. A machine for bunching wire including means for holding a portion of wire extending from a supply, and means acting on the wire `between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds, the folds being formed successively from the held end towards the supply, said forming means comprising a plurality of elements over which the wire extends, and members movable between the elements to force portions of wire therebetween.

4. A machine for bunching wire including means for holding a portion of wire extending from a supply, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds, and means for bringing the folds together to form a skein.

5. A machine for bunching Wire including means for holding a portion of wire extending from a supply, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds,the folds being formed successively from the held end towards the supply, and means for bringing the folds together to form a skein.

6. A machine for bunching wire including means for holding a portion of wireextending from a supply, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds, means for bringingthe folds together to form a skein, and separate means for binding the folds.

7. A machine for bunching Wire including means for holding a portion of wire extending from a supply, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds, the folds being formed successively from the held end tow'ards the supply, means for bringing thefolds together, and

separate means for binding the folds.

8. A machine for bunching wire including means for holding'a portion of wire extending from a supply, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of folds, means for bringing" the holding means and the supply to form the and means for binding the folds with separate Wire.

10. A machine for bunching wire including means for drawing a portion of wire from a supply and holdingthe wire, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of independent adjacent folds, and means lfor severing the wire between the folds and the supply.

11. A machine for bunching wire including means for drawing a portion of wire from a supply and holding the wire, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the vsupply to form the wire into a plurality of independent adjacent folds, the folds being formed successively from the held end towards the supply whereby wire is drawn from the supply during the forming operation, and means for severing the wire between `the folds and the supply.

12. A machine for bunching wire including means for drawing a portion of wire from a supply and holding the wire, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply] to form the wire into a plurality of independent vadjacent folds, means for severing the wire between the folds and the supply, and means for Abringing the folds together.

13. A machine for bunehing wire including means for drawing a portion of wire from a supply and holding the wire, means actingr on the wire between the holding n means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of independent ad- I jacent folds, means for severing the wire between the folds and the supply, means for bringing the folds together, and means for binding the folds with separate binding means.

14. A machine for bunching wire including means for drawing a portion of wire from a supply and holding the wire, means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the Wire into a plurality of independent adjacent folds, means for/severing the wire between the folds and the supply, means for bringing the folds together, and means' for binding the folds with separate wire, the last named means including means guiding a binding Wire to form a loop aboutthe folds and means-for cutting the binding wire.

15. A machine for binding wire including means for holding a portion of wire [extending from a supply and pneumatically operated means acting on the wire between the holding means and the supply to form the wire into a plurality of independent adjacent folds.

16. The method for bundling lead wires for blasting caps which includes holding the end of la wire extending from a supply, forming a length of the wire into a plurality of folds extending substantially in a plane, successively from the held end of the wire toward the supply, severing the wire adjacent a fold remote'from the held end of the wire, bunching the folds to form a skein and securing the hunched folds.

JOSEPH STUART, Il. 

